It’s amazing what a balm winning a couple games can be over a team’s troubles.

A week ago the Lakers were on a death spiral down to the seventh level of hell, then two wins where they go away from Mike D’Antoni’s offense and put Kobe Bryant at the point and suddenly Lakers fans are talking playoffs again. (I need to see a lot more before I buy in.)

“Not right now,” Gasol said when asked if he or anyone on his behalf would lodge a trade request before the deadline. “I don’t think now is the time for that step to happen. Right now I’m very focused and committed to our team….

“It’s hard for anybody who considers himself one of the top players in the world to say, ‘OK, I’m OK with coming off the bench,'” Gasol said. “It’s a difficult situation that we’ve been dealing with here. The last few games have been great, and we’re staying positive and we look forward to that to continue. But at the same time, we don’t need any other distractions, any more negativity. We need positive embracing, we need focus, we need to support each other. That’s where we’re at and that’s where I’m at, too.”

Gasol goes on to say he doesn’t know if he wants to come off the bench long-term, but for now he’s going to be positive.

You can bet the Lakers will still get and listen to calls from teams interested in him. However, a 32-year-old guy who missed games with knee tendonitis, has a $19.3 million contract next season, and who is not exactly having his best season is not drawing the best trade offers right now. Besides, until the Lakers have Dwight Howard inked to a contract extension it is a real risk to trade Gasol, the Lakers don’t want to be without any top-flight centers.

It is more likely Gasol gets moved this summer, unless someone comes through with an offer the Lakers can’t refuse. Wherever he would land, you can bet he will start and be a bigger part of the offense than he has been in Los Angeles this season.

With Jordan Hill out, the lakers can’t afford to trade pau this year. They need him as their backup center and they will be too small without him. He also makes dwight howard better because he does a great job finding him in the post, and he makes up for the fact that Dwight picks up a lot of fouls and has to sit out sometimes. Also, because Pau is an expensive player in his 30’s, the actual talent they could trade him for won’t be as good. Lakers need him or they will have no inside post presence.

whoa…i am boogieing down to aboogy’s comment! well said, sir! i think what you said pretty much ends that debate.

i think it was steve kerr(?) on espn saying, “if manu ginnobli never had an issue coming off the bench, then why should pau?” that is a very valid strong point. manu understands team success is the most vital ingredient to the season.

Indeed! I was thinking in the same line of thought. Manu never made an issue about it, and quite frankly it never diminished his value as a player. In fact, even if he is coming off the bench, I dare say that he is even still a better player than some starters of other teams.

fruitcovejag - Jan 29, 2013 at 9:54 AM

Gasol has always been a team player. Dwight, are you watching this? Take notes!

Gasol wouldn’t even be trade bait if the Lakers hired Phil Jackson to return – or at least a derivative in Brian Shaw – to coach the team. Both Jackson and Shaw know how to use Gasol from last season, and get him to mesh better with Howard.http://wp.me/p1gCK6-vL

The Triangle is a perfect fit for a player like Gasol. That system is where Pau would flourish. Not just in scoring but even more importantly in assist. You can see and feel Pau’s self-worth brimming with pride every time he makes a successful play via a well-placed pass.

If the right offer came along then you’d have to trade him, but I just think he holds more value to the Lakers right now than he does to any other team so I doubt that happens. I hope they keep him, he’s a great player to watch and his skill set is not replicable by anyone else on the Lakers roster.

You know, I have always liked Pau’s game and I know he’s trying to be “politically correct/ be the bigger man/ be a gentleman etc etc. etc.

BUT he has gotta MAN UP !!!

I mean….enough is enough. He is still one of the best big men in the league based on:
1. Knowledge of the game
2. Fundamentals (passing, working within the structure of the offense, inside and outside shot making)
3. Length/ Size
4. Footwork and agility etc. etc. etc.

EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE…would not even consider in a million years, to have him come off the bench !

Knowing that….why continue to be the fall guy and take all the blame for:
1. Bad Ownership decision (firing / hiring coaches)
2. Hiring a coach that doesn’t have the offense for this type of older team
3. Selfish players unwilling to play CONSISTENT team ball

Pau is a MAX CONTRACT player on EVERY other team! He would be a One or Two Option on most all other teams.

If I were Pau….It’s time to get the wrench out of the shed and drop it directly into the stalled out engine…known as the FAKERS !!!

Pau Gasol shows he’s a team player, unlike Lamar Odom who threw a childish tantrum and demanded to be traded away when he heard trade rumors about him. . Only total morons would want Gasol traded away. It’s not like the Lakers are bound to get a better player than Pau if they trade him and he is crucial to the Lakers as their second big man who can mat ch up against teams with good multiple big men.

Think of Pau Gasol as Laker’s insurance policy considering Howard’s shoulder is hurting. If Howard can’t play at least we have Gasol to step into the center role.

Of late Pau seems more energized, maybe being demoted has lit a fire under his rear so he plays harder. I still think that Pau is a starter and Earl Clark is a bench guy. It’s a shame the Lakers don’t have a coach intelligent enough to know how to properly use Gasol.